Amphibian plane



y 1, 1930. J. C/SCHLEICHER 1,768,863

AMI-HIBIAN PLANE Filed Aug. 18, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY y 1930- J. c. SCHLEICHER ,7

AMPHIBIAN PLANE Filed Aug. 18, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A r Inc) 1 II II II Patented July 1, 1930 UNITED STATES rename;

JOHN C. SGHLEICHER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AMPHIB IAN PLANE Application filed August 18, 1928.

This invention relates to amphibian planes, an object being to provide a plane of this type with means for preventing the accumulation of snow and ice upon the wings, so as to reduce weight either when travelling in the air, or upon the water. This also assists in lifting the plane and enables the plane to travel at a greater speed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plane in which the propellers are arranged and operated to control the direction of flight, and to stabilize the plane.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel wing construction, whereby the wings may be folded and the plane housed within a relatively small hangar.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for automatically correcting the position of the plane in the event of a tail spin.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction,

to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention.

Figure 2 is a front view.

Figure 3 is a top plan view.

Figure 4 is a section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevation partly in section showing the rear end of the body.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the same.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the plane which is designed to travel both in the air and water, comprises a body or hull 10, which as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings is provided with a false bottom 11, whereby the hull will be reinforced and danger of leakage will be prevented.

Mounted upon the hull is a cabin 12 from which extend wings 13.

The hull in addition to the false bottom IS a Serial No. 300,448.

is provided with recesses 14 within which wheels 15 are mounted. These wheels extend sufliciently below the bottom of the hull to provide a land gear useful in traveL ling over the surface of the ground, in making a landing and in a take off. The intermediate wheels are utilized when travelling over the land, while the extreme for ward wheel may be utilized in making a landing where the plane strikes the ground at an angle. The extreme rear wheel may be utilized in a take off where the plane leaves the ground at an acute angle. Pressure relief tubes 16 extend from the intermediate recesses 14 through the hull so as to relieve pressure in the hull when the plane is travelling through the water.

The wings 13 are of sectional formation and comprise inner sections 17 which are rigid with the cabin l2 and outer sections 18 which are foldable inwardly as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 2. For this purpose, the upper inner edges of the sections 17 and 18 are hingedly connected together as indicated at 19 while their lower edges may be connected by bolts 20 which prevent pivotal movement. The outer ends of the wings are connected by means of stays 21 with lateral wing extensions 22 which project from opposite sides of the hull 10.

The outer ends of the rigid sections 17 of the wings are connected with the hull by means of struts 23 and braces 24. This construction provides for the mounting of engine supports 25, at the forward ends of which are pivotally mounted as shown at 26, engines 27 These engines operate propellers 28 and by adjusting the engines pivotally by suitable means (not shown) the direction of vertical flight may be regulated, while by slowing down one of the engines, the direction of horizontal flight may be regulated.

The plane is further provided with an engine 29 which is pivotally mounted as shown at 30 at the rear end of the cabin 12, the pivotal position of this engine being controlled by any suitable means. A propeller 31 is operated by the engine29 and this propeller may serve both as a traction propeller and as a means for regulating the vertical flight.

In order to facilitate travel of the plane over the surface of the ground, the intermediate Wheels 15 are relatively wide so that they will not readily sink in soft earth. The hull 10 is provided with longitudinally extending reinforcing ribs or strips 32 which act to prevent injury to the hull. I

The rear end of the hull 10 has extending therefrom a flexible tail plate 33 whose inner end is permanently attached to the hull as indicated at 34:. A vertically disposed longitudinally extending fin 35 is also provided at the rear end of the hull.

In the event of a tail spin, the outer free end of the flexible tail plate 33 will be flexed as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 5 so as to deflect the downward course of the plane and change its direction of flight to such an extent that it may be readily maneuvered out of the spin.

The wings are hollow and communication is established between the inner rigid section 17 and the outer foldable sections by means of short tubes 36. Exhaust gases from the engine 30 are conducted to the inner rigid sections 17 through a pipe 37 and pass from this rigid section into the outer sections 18 and outward through escape tubes 38. The wings will thus be heated so as to prevent the accumulation of snow and ice thereon.

Mounted upon the outer ends of the wings are flexible plates 39. The forward edges of these plates are rigidly attached to the wings as indicated at 40, while their rear free edges are attached to a cable 11 by means of a bridle 42. The cables pass around pulleys 4.3 and into the cabin through a tube {-1 1 to within convenient reach of the pilot. The plates 39 normally lie flat upon the upper surface of the wings and may be flexed upward to assist in controlling the direction of flight of the plane and may also be used in banking.

The introduction of the exhaust gases into the wings assists in lifting the plane and also enables the plane to travel at a greater speed.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention what is claimed is:

In an airplane, a body, a hollow wing of sectional formation including an inner section rigid with the body, outer sections movably secured to the opposite ends of the inner section and capable of being folded or extended, an engine, means to conduct exhaust gases from the engine to the hollow rigid section, and tubular members providing connection between the wing sections when the latter are extended.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN C. SCHLEICHER. 

